viii PREFACE. 



generously expressed a willingness to oblige him in this respect^ 

 provided they were acquainted with an approved mode of skinning 

 and preserving them, the following process is respectfully submit- 

 ted, as being fully sufficient both for their purpose and that of the 

 naturalist.^ And tho no drawings have been, or will be made for 

 this work, from any stuffed subjects, where living specimens of the 

 same can be procured; yet the former serve a very important pur- 

 pose; they enable the author to ascertain the real existence and 

 residence of such subjects; and coming from various and remote 

 parts of the continent, throw great light on the extent of range^ 

 and the migrations of various species of the feathered tribes; par- 



* As soon as the bird is shot, let memoranda be taken of the length, the breadth (mea- 

 suring from tip to tip of the expanded wings), color of the eyes, bill, legs and feet, and such 

 particulars of its manners, &c. as may be known. Make a longitudinal incision under the 

 wing, sufficiently large to admit the body to be taken out; disjoint the wing close to the body 

 under the skin, and endeavour with a pair of scissars or penknife to reach the neck, which cut 

 off; pass the skin carefully over to the other wing, which also disjoint and separate from the 

 body, then over the whole body and thighs, which last cut off close to the knees ; lastly, se- 

 parate the whole skin from the body at the roots of the tail feathers, which must not be injured. 

 Return to the neck and carefully pass the skin to, and beyond, the eyes, which scoop out ; cut 

 off the neck close to the scull, penetrate this way with your knife into the brain, which scrape 

 completely out ; dissect all the fleshy parts from the head, wings and skin ; rub the whole in- 

 side with a solution of arsenic, sprinkle some of the same into the cavity of the brain, throat, 

 &c.; stuff the vacuity of the brain and eyes with cotton, to their full dimensions ; return Xht 

 skin carefully back, arranging the eye lids and plumage ; stuff the whole with cotton to its 

 proper size and form, sew up the longitudinal incision, and, having carefully arranged the 

 whole plumage, sprinkle it outwardly with a little powdered arsenic ; place it in a close box, 

 into which some camphor has been put, and cover it with cotton or ground tobacco. In the 

 whole operation the greatest care must be taken not to soil the plumage with blood. 



If arsenic cannot conveniently be had, common salt may be substituted. 



